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Recognising Language Disorders in Children

While parents, teachers, and pediatricians may be quick to respond if a child is very delayed in developing speech or the child is difficult to understand, language disorders are often more subtle and can significantly impact a child's social skills and school success.  Language disorders (difficulty sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings completely) can include:

• difficulty using pronouns correctly
• improper use of tenses
• atypical sentence structure
• limited vocabulary
• repetitive use of language

Studies reveal a connection between language disorders and underachievement in school, social problems, emotional difficulties and behavioral problems.  That is why we at Emerge feel it is important to intervene early.  

If you would like to talk with one of speech therapists about your child's language development, please give us a call at 928-0204.  A free over the phone consultation can help determine whether an evaluation is indicated.

Integrated Listening Systems

Emerge is excited to offer Integrated Listening Systems, a new tool to parents and children to address sensory processing, focus and attention, auditory processing, and speech. This tool expands on the Therapeutic Listening Program that Emerge has offered for many years, with focused integration of visual, vestibular and auditory input.  Additionally there is a specific auditory processing/expressive language component that uses headphones and a mic so that children receive more accurate feedback regarding their speech.  If you have questions,or would like more information, please talk with your child's therapist or Bonnie.

Summer Camps and Programs

The staff at Emerge has been busy planning our summer programs.  Summer is a wonderful time to offer your child an intensive therapy experience.  We offer a wide variety of programs designed to enrich children's lives and develop new skills.  The fliers will soon be up on the website, but in the meantime, please feel free to call or email us and we will happily send you information about any programs that you might be interested in.

Capable Kindergartners - Developing fine motor skills through fun art activities

Ready Writers - Developing fine motor and handwriting skills for rising 1st and 2nd graders

Preschool Power - Developing social and language skills

Staying Cool - Helping children develop strategies to reduce anxiety

How Does Your Engine Run - Helping children learn regulation strategies

Recipe for Fun - Developing fine motor, social and language skills while having fun cooking

Horse Sense - One week day camp integrating horses and other sensory-motor strategies

Autistic-Like Video

Some children with Sensory Processing Disorders present with symptoms that are characteristic of autism.  This is the story of one family whose child was labeled autistic at a very young age.  His parents were frustrated that the recommended behavioral approach (ABA) did not seem to be meeting his needs.  They  discovered that he has a Sensory Processing disorder and instituted therapy to address his sensory processing and incorporated a Floortime approach to working with him.  And that made all the difference.

Autistic-Like Preview

School-Based and Clinic-Based Therapy: What’s the Difference?

Is there a difference?  Would your child ever need both?

 

When therapy is recommended for a child, the physician may often recommend that the parents pursue therapy through the school system.  Most people have heard that children can receive speech and occupational therapy through the schools at no charge.  And they sometimes can, but it comes with a lot of caveats. 

 

For the most part, public schools deliver speech or occupational therapy under the orders of the Individuals with Disabilities Act – Part B.  To qualify for services, children must meet the Act’s definition of being disabled.  The Act states that school-based therapy must focus only on goals that are related to a child’s ability to benefit from education.  Therefore, school-based therapy puts emphasis on functional oral and written communication skills.  Challenges that affect a child’s ability to function normally at home or in the broader community may be excluded from therapy.  For instance, speech impediments may not fall under the Individuals with Disabilities Act because a stutter or trouble forming Rs would not necessarily interfere with learning at school and sensory processing disorders, even though they can clearly impact a child's ability to learn and function in the school environment are often not addressed directly.  In fact most schools do not have the equipment required to effective treat sensory processing disorders.

 

On the other hand, clinic-based therapy takes a more global outlook on the well-being of the child and the family.  At Emerge – A Child’s Place, therapists will often coordinate with teachers, school-therapists, and physicians.  The children who receive support at Emerge are not limited to those fitting the federal government’s definition of disabled.  Emerge focuses first on defining the underlying foundations of each child’s challenges.  Subsequent therapy focuses on those foundations with goals that encompass success at home, school, public, and later adult life. 

 

Specific Differences

·         School-based therapy typically ends when the child no longer requires therapeutic intervention to perform school tasks.  Therapy at Emerge ends when a child has reached maximum potential or when the family can continue the therapy maintenance independently. 

·         When choosing a clinic-based therapy program, families can look for specific training, equipment, techniques, or certifications among their therapy providers. 

·         School-based therapy must limit itself to goals that relate directly to benefiting from school education.  Emerge can address those issues, plus Emerge is free to directly address issues of sensory processing, articulation, picky-eating, coordination, self-care, etc. 

·         With Emerge, productive therapy can begin before grade school and give a child the best possible head start on his or her individual school career.

·         Frequency, parental support, and parental involvement are all vitally important to most pediatric occupational and speech therapy plans.  With Emerge, parents and doctors have more say in the frequency of treatment and the goals of therapy.  Emerge gets parents highly involved in therapy and teaches parents ways to help and support their child’s development.

Autism rates now 1 in 100

The CDC has issued new figures that places the incidence of autism at 1 child out of every 100.  This figure continues the alarming trend over the last 15-20 years of increasing incidence.  When I speak at conferences, invaribly someone will ask, but don't you think that figure just reflects better and more inclusive diagnosis.  While I think that accounts for a small portion of the change, as a professional that has worked in the field for more than 30 years, there is no doubt in my mind that increasing numbers of children are falling on the autism spectrum.  And for every child on the spectrum, we see 3-4 who are not, but who demonstrate signficant sensory and behavioral regulatory challenges.  This a profound change from the children I saw in the early years of my practice, who primarily presented with a coordination issue.

Gluten Free Lunch Box-Class at Durham Whole Foods

From the Whole Foods Calendar:

Thursday, September 3
The Gluten-Free Lunch Box: Free Workshop

6:00 - 7:00 pm FREE

Join us for a free workshop presented by Debbie Jongkind, RD, LDN who is a Gluten-free Health Coach for people with Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance. Debbie will guide you through the best ways to build a healthy and exciting lunch box for your youngster who is unable to enjoy gluten in his or her diet. And you'll take home a free goody bag of some of our favorite products as well! Space is limited, please sign up at the customer service desk or call 919.286.2290.

Therapy Equipment Resource

From time to time I receive mailings from small companies that offer therapy equipment, often which is less expensive than when offered through a large company.  Affordable Therapy Solutions is one of these companies offering weighted blankets and vests, swing and scooter boards. As always, check with your child's therapist about the suitability of any of these items.

Getting Ready for Back to School

Returning to school is often welcomed by parents, but represents a big change in the lives of many children, even more so when they are starting a new school or program.  Check out the article below for lots of good back to school tips.

8 strategies to ease back-to-school